Method and device for the operation of a vehicle to avoid or clear a traffic jam

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an improved way to avoid or clear a traffic jam. In particular, the disclosure relates to a method for the operation of a vehicle in which at least partial intersection by a dynamic object with a first section of the traffic area occupied by the vehicle is predicted, wherein the vehicle is in a waiting situation waiting for a release for onward travel. Then a trajectory of the vehicle is determined, which at least clears or avoids the intersection by the dynamic object with the first section of the traffic area. Further, the disclosure relates to a device for the operation of a vehicle, a program element and a computer-readable medium with such a program element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:
 while the vehicle is waiting in a waiting situation for a release for onward travel, predicting at least a partial intersection by a dynamic object with a first section of a traffic area occupied by the vehicle, the predicting of the at least partial intersection comprising:
 determining an intersection area over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area; and 
 determining a rearmost point of the intersection area relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle; 
 
 determining a trajectory of the vehicle which clears or avoids the intersection by the dynamic object with the vehicle, the determining of the trajectory comprising:
 determining a second section of the traffic area that is rearward of the vehicle based on the rearmost point; 
 checking a vehicle environment between the first and second sections for an obstacle; and 
 determining a stopping point for the vehicle as a maximum possible area based on a maximum possible rearward movement up to the obstacle; and 
 
 controlling the vehicle along the determined trajectory to the stopping point, 
 
       wherein:
 the determining of the intersection area comprises calculating an area dimension over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area; and 
 the determining of the rearmost point of the intersection area includes determining the rearmost point of the calculated area dimension over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , the predicting further comprising at least one of:
 classifying the dynamic object as a bus, truck, passenger car, or pedestrian; and 
 determining, at least partly, a contour of the dynamic object. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , the predicting further comprising:
 determining kinematic data of the dynamic object, the kinematic data including at least one of a speed of the dynamic object and a deceleration or acceleration of the dynamic object. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is waiting at a traffic sign that controls a way forward, the traffic sign being one of (i) a light signal system, (ii) a stop sign, and (iii) a give way sign. 
     
     
       5. A device for the operation of a vehicle, the device comprising:
 a data processing device configured to:
 obtain data from a vehicle environment; 
 while the vehicle is waiting in a waiting situation for a release for onward travel, predict, at least from the obtained data, at least a partial intersection by a dynamic object with a first section of a traffic area occupied by the vehicle, the predicting of the at least partial intersection including:
 determining an intersection area over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area; and 
 determining a rearmost point of the intersection area relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle; 
 
 determine a trajectory of the vehicle which one of clears and avoids the intersection by the dynamic object with the first section of the traffic area the determining of the trajectory including:
 determining a second section of the traffic area that is rearward of the vehicle based on the rearmost point; 
 checking a vehicle environment between the first and second sections for an obstacle; and 
 determining a stopping point for the vehicle as a maximum possible area based on a maximum possible rearward movement up to the obstacle; and 
 
 provide driving control data for the vehicle that include the determined trajectory, the data processing device being configured to control the vehicle along the determined trajectory to the stopping point, 
 
 
       wherein the data processing device is further configured such that:
 the determining of the intersection area comprises calculating an area dimension over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area; and 
 the determining of the rearmost point of the intersection area includes determining the rearmost point of the calculated area dimension over which the dynamic object is expected to intersect the first section of the traffic area. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein data processing device is further configured to execute a program to predict the at least a partial intersection and to determine the trajectory. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the program is stored on a computer-readable medium.